[CQ-Contest] CQ WW Rules (draft 2)

[W0MU Mike Fatchett]

Thanks Randy and all that helped in this 2nd revision.

My question concerns Multi One or Multi two. To me and more casual ops, 
Multi One means Multiple operators one radio/transmitter. Multi Two 
means Multiple operators two radios/transmitters.

The rules in Version 1 attempted to limit the number of 
radios/transmitters being used in these classes.  Now that appears to 
have been over turned.

I never understood the purpose of the multiplier station in the M1 
scenario.  Do we really need a multiplier station?  Multi entries have 
the full use of packet and RBN.

Is the intent to have 3 or more operators manning radios searching out 
mults or scanning the same band with a TX lockout which essentially 
turns another radio into a multiplier radio on the same band.

Why have we gone back to one transmitted signal?

Multi one should be one rig and multiple ops who can change bands when 
they want and take turns at the single radio.  If you want a 10 minute 
rule so be it.

Multi Two is as above with 2 radios/transmitters.  The ops can choose 
how to run those 2 transmitters/rigs how they wish with whatever minute 
rule you like.

MM is many ops and many radios doing many things but limited to one 
signal per band at any one time.

Do we really want or need M1 stations built with lockouts so that 4 or 
more people are operating at the same time?  Is this the true intent of 
the class?

Are these changes catering to a few small groups who have pushed the 
envelope of what M1 is?  These new changes appear to be re-written for 
the 1 or 2 percenters and not how most of the people view the M1 or M2 
classes.

The only reason I can see that the mult station was added to M1 was to 
give bigger M1 team members something to do.  Why would those entries 
simply not move into the M2 class?

M1 and M2 are simply subclasses of the MM.  You build a big MM station 
and then pull apart pieces of it to accommodate the rule variation.  If 
you have more than two radios capable of transmitting at a M1 or M2 
aren't you really a MM?

Why not write the rules for the average participant where a single tower 
with antennas on all bands could be competitive in a true M1 class where 
it is one op and one rig where a few people get together that don't want 
to operate the entire contest themselves, who would rather give it their 
all for 4 or 8 or 12 hours etc or they have more fun operating as a 
team.  If you have a slightly bigger tower/station or more operators 
then move up to M2 with two Rigs.

We need to get back to more simplified rules that address how most 
people operate the contest not create rules and classes for a handful of 
extreme/elite ops and stations.

Mike W0MU